As new product opportunities are endless, developing hardware systems for various purposes is a complex project. Even though IoT systems have a combo of hardware, firmware, and software components, 80% of the necessary expenses and difficulty lies in the embedded system hardware in parallel yet with connection to the firmware. Hence, companies must use an all-around, practical, and agile approach to ensure their builds are secure and on time. So, if you’re considering a new hardware product idea, keep this guide handy!
1. Research the Feasibility
Dig into research to confirm your planned product is technically feasible. You may need to:
- Evaluate various electronics components to see if they can deliver the needed functionality within size, cost, and power constraints.
- Assess different manufacturing techniques to produce the item within budget.
- Review safety and regulatory requirements for the product type and intended use.
The goal is to avoid nasty surprises down the road that require a major redesign. Do your homework upfront to verify the product you envision can become a reality.
2. Preliminary Hardware Designing
Preliminary hardware design closes the gaps between the design concept and the real thing. A microcontroller is a fundamental component in any hardware product that is allied with additional features such as displays, sensors, memory chips, etc. To describe all electronic functions and how they connect with other functional components, start with the System-Level Block diagram. Your component identification process must lead you to having a full Bill of Materials (BOM).
3. Prototyping
Prototyping links your hardware product on paper and the real thing that will be sold on a shelf. Take it easy and channel your focus on creating an easy engineering prototype. This stage aims to assess whether the proposed features are feasible. If you’re looking to save significant resources like time and money, it’s best to outsource your PCB manufacturing and component assembly to a reliable manufacturer that offers small volume production. Only that will let you be certain that your prototype will be top-quality. On the other hand, if your design is relatively simple and you have some skilled technicians on staff, then you could do the assembly in-house.
4. Design for Manufacturing & Assembly (DFMA)
The DFMA process is critical and comes before your project attains resources for higher-volume manufacturing. In today’s age of mass-manufactured products, both phases are merged into DFDA, with the primary considerations being. That streamlines the complexity and lowers any resulting overhead costs.
By studying every element, production consultants can develop strategies to lower a company’s manufacturing costs. Discovering cost-effective materials for manufacturing without compromising the product’s quality. To avoid having a complex and confusing inventory, use standardized parts.
Make sure to get feedback from your manufacturing partners on your electrical and mechanical designs; if you don’t, it will cost more money, and production will be delayed.
5. Manufacturing
Finding a trustworthy manufacturing partner should be at the top of your priority list before beginning mass production. That is an essential point that most project owners overlook and regret later. However, it can be a fantastic fit in this role as a marketplace for all IoT supply needs.
This phase is Design Verification (DV) and is your chance to make changes to assembly fixtures, evaluate manufacturing setup, and calibrate software tools before moving into production. The manufacturer may need coaching on how to build the product in its exact form as the prototype. That is also when you identify and resolve any remaining issues in the design for the part being manufactured. In this step, you should produce 50-100 units with a goal of zero product failures during design verification.
6. Gate Review to Attain PV
The last step after completion of design verification is to go through a Gate Review. At this time, everything you have contributed to is thoroughly assessed for preparedness to enter mass production. PV (the full term is Process Verification) is another name for production verification when you produce 100+ units up to 200.
Multiple build tests here will show whether the manufacturing process is 100% ready for evolving to a mass production opportunity. However, even with these tests, there is a slight chance that something could still go wrong with the product function-wise. These failures are usually rare cases, however. Therefore, that phase should be used to pinpoint and fix any issues in both design and manufacture which could lead to problems down the line. After that, test the designed goods to discover further problems. That is a very demanding and long-term stage that might take up to six months. Such durability testing fixtures offer important reliability data followed by an overall look at the creation’s quality.
Once your staff has given the quality, it’s a blessing. Get ready for larger quantities to flow down the line to fulfill ‘time-to-market’ deadlines while applying with regulatory authorities to have your unique offer certified for particular regions.
Conclusion
Thorough planning and preparation enables efficient engineering of new hardware products that work well and meet market needs. Defining detailed requirements, researching feasibility, iterative prototyping, designing for manufacturing, creating comprehensive documentation, and carefully ramping production are all important steps. Following an organized development process prevents headaches and ensures you build a reliable, functional product on time and on budget. With diligent upfront planning, you can transform your idea into a smoothly executed hardware product that delights customers.
FAQ
What are some key requirements to define for a new hardware product?
Some key requirements to define include functionality, dimensions, weight, materials, power needs, durability, and compliance with any relevant standards. Document everything the product must do or have.
Why is prototyping important?
Prototyping allows you to test and refine the design through hands-on models before committing to manufacturing. Early prototypes provide insights that can optimize the product before it’s too late or expensive to make changes.
What should you look for when selecting materials and components?
Key selection criteria include functionality, availability, durability, power requirements, physical size, and cost. Components must deliver required capabilities within project constraints. Prioritize commercially available parts.
How can you design for easier manufacturing?
Focus on enabling automated assembly, utilizing common readily available materials/components, standardizing parts, simplifying designs, and designing for efficient packaging and distribution. Avoid unnecessary complexity.
What documentation should be created for a new hardware product?
Thoroughly document the design with CAD models/drawings, part/assembly drawings, schematics, bills of materials, and any other details needed to fully communicate the design for manufacturing.
Why build multiple prototypes?
Additional prototypes let you refine the design, do robust testing, confirm manufacturability, and make final optimizations before committing to full production. Prototypes minimize risks of issues cropping up later.
How should you plan for production ramp-up?
Start with small initial runs to confirm quality before gradually increasing output. Expand staffing, production lines, and component deliveries as output grows. Refine processes for maximum efficiency. A slow, careful ramp-up reduces risks.
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